My Take On The (social) Networking Boom

Try and think back to the first time you heard about Facebook.  The hype of this "new" social networking site swept through universities around the nation like the Black Plague, and most students were caught up in the "Facebook Fever" before they even knew what hit them.  Do you remember what Facebook version 1.0 looked like?  I know I don't, but I certainly remember the day I was forced to create a profile by my insecure and jealous ex-girlfriend!  

At the time, social networking was the cool new way for college students to communicate with their friends, post pictures of the event or party they attended, or just kill time in between classes.  My, how the times have changed.  I don't think anyone could have predicted the way in which sites like Facebook and Twitter have changed the way friends communicate, how companies do business, how brands are promoted, and how success metrics are measured.

But it's important for us to keep things in perspective here.  Although Social Networking has come a long way, there is still a long way to go.  Businesses, universities, and performers are all establishing formulas for social networking success.  We are basically in the early stages of the internet boom 2.0, except this one proves to be even bigger.  Bigger in terms of volume and in the change of business models, and a whole new industry has essentially been created because of this.

Now, I think that there are very few "experts" on social networking out there because it is still evolving, but I fully understand the growing importance for all types of organizations to make the switch over to the web 2.0 way of marketing.  Information needs to be distributed quickly and simultaneously to the masses.  It's all about sharing ideas, information, and opinions, and word-of-mouth has always been the most powerful marketing tool.  And who knows, maybe someday that phrase will be changed to word-of-tweet. 

The New Naptown

My last blog was an ode to Chicago in the summertime, so I think it's only fair for me to give praise to the city that is stealing me away.  I originally decided to move back to Indianapolis for my girlfriend, not for the city, but recently I have discovered a cultural presence that I never knew existed.  

I've only been away from Indy for two and a half years, so I'm pretty sure the cultural flavor was there during my tenure at Butler University, but my experiences were limited to Campus and Broad Ripple--that's it.  That's all I knew about the Circle City, and you couldn't tell me any different.  I had my nose in the air and laughed at anyone that even suggested that Indianapolis had an alternative culture worth talking about.  Insert foot in mouth.

I've discovered that you can find local live music on a nightly basis, or shop and dine at some of the most unique and trendy stores and restaurants on Mass Ave.  If you haven't already done so, you NEED to get out to a Naptown Roller Girls bout. (I recommend the suicide seating for the full experience)  But, the bottom line is that there is plenty to do in Indianapolis besides hitting the Broad Ripple strip.

I attended the Indy Culture Matters rally down in the circle back in April which really opened my eyes to not only the sheer volume of cultural activities that are available, but the passion that the people of Indy have for culture.  Smaller cities like Indianapolis offer a more intimate experience of cultural events because they have a preverbal "chip on their shoulder" about establishing themselves as a culture capital.  This fact alone makes it possible for anyone to get involved in the "see-and-do" that is available.  All you need to do is pick up a NUVO, or better yet, follow them on Facebook and Twitter, to find out about weekly events--it's that easy.  

So, while I'm definitely going to miss Chicago, I am equally excited to explore more of the New Naptown that has so much to offer .